Well-formation-testing device



23 w29 E. c. JOHNSTQN WELL FORMATION TESTING DEVICE ,Q/ f 4 f7 Filed March 23, 1927 [ni/mmf; 5. Jafmsof,

Fatentecl Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES maar erica.

EDGAR CLINTON JOHNSTON, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS7 ASSIGNOR T0 TOHill'S'llOllil' .FORMATION TESTING CORPORATION, OF. EL DORADO, ARKANSAS, A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

Application filed March 23, 1927.

The present invention relates to vimprovements in testing devices for use in connection with formation and drilling oil wells and the like and has for its principal object 6 to provide a simple and efficient means for accurately testing sands which are encountered during the drillin of the well.

One of the saliento jects of the present invention is to provide a testing device of the'above mentioned character which' includes an automatically operated valve structure, which will at all times be positive and efficient in its operation.

In drilling a well where a likely formation is struck,the operator of the drilling mechanism or apparatus will reduce the size of the hole that is being drilled by the method commonly known or called rat holing. This rat hole is` formed by employing a bit of a smaller size thanl the one used -to finish the hole.

, One of the important objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a testing device, which may be readily and easily secured on the lower end of the drill pipe, the testing device including a perforated plug which is adapted to enter the rat hole, in order to permit any fluid or gas to enter the tester. A Atapered packer is associated with the tester at a point above the perforated plug and this packer is adapted for cooperation with the upper portion of the rat hole for the purpose of preventing water and mud laden Huid from entering the rat hole and subsequently the perforated plug. Means are further associated with the tester for permitting the fluid to pass upwardly therethrough and enter the drilling pipe. A normally closed valve is arranged within the testing device, the same being opened by the weight of the tester and the plpe to which the device is attached, when the packer strikes the rat hole.

A further object of the invention is to means of which, should the testing device becomestuck in any part of the well bore, as by the crumbling inof the walls of the Well, fluid pressure may be supplied below the4 tester, tending to facilitate the withdrawal upward of the drill tube and tester,

provide an emergency relief arrangement by WELL-FORMATION -TESTIN G DEVICE.

Serial No. 177,719.

without necessitatin' troublesome, expensive and often futile fishing operations.

A further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted'to the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects andl advantages will become apparent during the course ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawing, formin a part of this specification, and in which like .numerals indicate like parts throughout the same:

The figure represents a vertical sectional View through the testing device embodying my invention7 and showing the same in actual use, the valve being open.'

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the tester. The same comprises the cylindrical casing 2 which is internally threaded at its upper and lower ends. A bushing or fitting 3 is threaded at its lower end in the upper internally threaded end of the cylindrical casing 2 and the upper portion of the bushing has the bore 4 thereof enlarged to provide the socket 5. This socket is internally threaded at its upper end whereby the bushing or head may be threaded on the lower threaded end of the drill pipe 6. The valve seat 7 is formed at the juncture of the bushing 3 with the socket 5, and the purpose of this valve seat will. 'be hereinafter more fully described. v

A bushing or head 8 is threaded at its upper end in the lower internally threaded end of the cylindrical' casing 2, thereby providing a unitary structure between the casing and the heads.

My improved tester further includes the provision of the stem 9, which is of a diameter slightly less than Vthe diameter of the bore 4 of the bushing 3, and through which the stem entends. This stem is formed with a longitudinal bore 10. A valve 1l is formed at the upper end of the stem and is arranged withinthe socket 5v for cooperation with the valve scat 7. This valve is normally maintained in a closed position against the valve seat by a suitable spring in the manner tov 'end for detachable engagement with the lower threaded end of the stein 9. The connection 15 between the lo'wer end of the stem 9 and the upper end of the pipe 14 will form a unitary structure.

The upper portion of this pipe is formed with aseries of Huid outlet openings 16, and the lower end. of this vertical pipe 14 is eX- ternally threaded as is clearly shown at 17 in the drawing. l Y

A suitable packing gland 18 is threaded upwardly into the bore of the lower bushing 8 and the same surrounds the 'interv mediateportion of the pipe 14. The bottom of the bushing 8 is formed with an enlarged cut out portion 19 to receive the tool engaging end ofthe gland 18.

A tapered rubber packer 20 is formed with a central bore and is adapted for disposition upon the lower threaded end of the pipe 14. A relatively thick plate formed with a central threaded opening is threaded on the threaded end portion 17 of the pipe 14 and engages the top of the tapered rubber packer 20 in the manner clearly shown in the drawingv and this plate is designated by the numeral 21. A heavy expansible coil spring 22 encircles the threaded portion 17 of the pipe 14 and is disposed between the bushing closed therein. The tapered rubber pack'er 8 and the plate 21. Thel upper end of the spring encircles the tool engaging end of the packing gland 18 and is disposed within the cut out portion'19 formed 1n the bottom of the bushing 8. The lower end of this spring l is, disposed within an vannular groove 23 formed in the top of the thick plate 21. The expansible spring 22 normally ur es the casing 2 andthe bushings carried t ereby upwardly Vso that the seat 7 will beheld against the valve 11, thus cutting ofl communication between the socket 5 and the cylindrical casing 2 as is readily obvious from the construction shown in the drawing.

A tapered collar 24 is formed with a central threaded bore for threaded engagement on the threaded end of the pipe 14 andthe lower end of the tapered rubber packer 20 engages-the upper face of this downwardly tapered collar and the collar provides means for preventing any possibility of the rubber packer 2O working downwardly on the lower end of the pipe 14.

Adapted for cooperation with the lower end of the pipe 14 is the perforated hollow plug 25, the lower end thereof being closed. However, the closed lower end of the hollow plug is also formed with a series of perforations or openings similar to the openings formed in the side of the plug, and these openings' are shown at 26. The perforated plug is threaded on the lower threaded end 17 of the pipe 14 and the upper open end of the plug will engage the lower 4end of the downwardly tapered collar 24 in the manner as clearly shown in the drawing. A reduced externally threaded neck portion 27 is formed on the lower end of the stem 9, the same surrounding the bore 10. A cage 28 open at its upper end isthreaded on this' depending neck 27 and is arranged within the upper portion of the pipe 14; Confined within the cage 28and adapted for coopera tion with thev lower end of the bore 10 formed in the stem 9 is the ball valve 29. An

- expansible spring 30 normally urges the ball valve 29 against the lower end of the bore 10 for closing the same and the tension of this coil spring is adjusted through the medium of a plate 31 slidable within the cage 28 and a bolt 32 is threaded through the bottom of the cage and engages the slide able plate 3l in the manner as clearly shown in the drawing.

The ball valve 29 will normally prevent any possibility; of' any fluid .passing upwardly through the stem 9. The operation of my improved testing'device may be briefly statedas follows:

After the rat hole A -has been formed, the testing device is attached to the 'lower end of the drill pipe 6 and the same is lowered within the larger hole B, so that the lower end vof the pipe 14 will enter the rat hole and the hollow perforated plug 25 will be en- Due to the weight of the cylindrical casingand its bushings as well as the drill pipe 6 to which the casino' is secured, the latter will move downwardly on the pipe 14, against the tension of the coil spring 22, thus removing the valve seat-from engagement with the valve andthe fluid which enters the pipe -14' through the holes 26 in the perforated plug 25 will pass upwardl through the pipe and be discharged into t e casing through Athe outlet openingslf. The fluid will then pass upwardly through the bore 4 around the stem 9 and will further pass outwardly through the drill'pipe 6.

found necessary to circulate the mud-laden iiuid in the hole Band to this end, the fluid is admitted through the tubular extension In using the present device., it may bel A-luid willl then pass downwardly through the pipe 14 into the perforated plug 25 and-will then circulate upwardly around the tester. rl`hus, should the tester stick in the well at any part of the bore above the rat hole, caused for instance by the crumbling-in of .the side walls of the well, fluid under pressure may be pumped into 'the Well below the tester, and an upward pressure created which would greately facilitate'the lifting of the tester and the drill pipe attached thereto upwards to the surface, or as far up as may be desired.

When the device is in its lowermost position, the valve is open and manifestly when the device is lifted upwardly, the valve will be automatically moved t0 a closed position. The provision of a valve structure of this character will obviate the necessity of having to provide any additional means for actuating the valve such as is employed with certain types of testing .devices now in use.

With a testing device of the above meuf tioned character, the v arious formations encountered in drilling operations may be tested in a simple and eiicient manner. The simplicity with which my device is constructed enables the parts to be readily and easily assembled vand attached to the lower end of a drill' pipe, and the device will at all times be positive and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the-size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of'the appended claims. s

` lHaving thus described the invention, what n I claii'n as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is `1. Apparatus for testing formations in oil wells, in which the well is provided with the usual bore and rat hole, comprising a drill tube projecting down into the well, a4

hollow cylindrical casing attached to the lower end of said drill tube, the upper-head of said casing'being provided with a valve l. seat and a bore beneath the same, and the lower head vof said casing being'provided with a stuiing box, a hollow valve stem 'carrying avalve, slidably mounted insaid bore, a tube connected to the lower end of said valve stem andprovided at its upper y end wlth a series of perforations,\.said tube vmounted on said tube above -said plug, a coil spring held under compression betweensaid casing and said packer and normally adapted to hold said valve on seat, and a ing to iiuid pressure from above.

2. Apparatus for testing formations in oil wells, in which the well is provjided with the usual bore and rat hole, comprising a drill tube rojecting down into the well, a hollow cylindrical casing attached to the lower end of said drill tube, the upperheadof said casing being provided with a valveseat and a bore beneath the same, and the lower head of said casing being provided with a stuffing box, a hollow valve stem carrying a valve, slidably mounted in said bore, a tube connected to the lower end of said valve stem and provided at its upper end with a series of perorations and at its lower end with external threads, said tube projecting down through said stutiing box, a perforated plug screwed on to the lower end of said tube and ada ted to project down into the rat hole of t e well, a tapered packer mounted on said tube above said plug,'and adapted to usualk bore and rat hole, comprising a drill tube projecting down into the well, a hollow cylindrical caslng attached tc the lower end of said drill tube, the upper head of said casing being provided with a valve seat and a bore beneath lthe same, and the lower head of said casin bein provided with a studing box, a ho ow va ,ve stem carrying a valve slidably mounted in I said bore, a tube connected to the lower end of said valve stem and provided at its upper end with a series of perforations, said tube projecting down through said stuiling box, a perforated plug secured to the lower end of said'tube andA adapted to .project down, into the rat hole of 'the well, a packermounted on said tube above said plug, and a coil spring held under .compression between said casing and said' 'packer and normally adapted to hold said ,valve on its seat.

4.' Apparatus for testing formation in oil Wells, in which the well is provided with-the usual bore and rat hole, comprising a drill tube projecting down into the well, a hollow cylindrical casing attached to the lower end of said drill tube, the upper head of said casing being provided with a valve seat and a bore beneath the same, and the lower head of said casing being provided with a stufhng box, a hollow valve stem carrying a valve ias slidably mounted in said bore, a tube connected to the lower end of said valve stem and provided at its upper end with a series of perforations and atits lower end with external threads, said tubo projecting down through said stuiling box, a perforated plug screwed to the lower end of said tube and adapted to project down into the rat hole of the well,va tapered packer mounted on said tube above said plug, and a coil spring held 10 under compression between said casing and said packer and normally adapted to hold said valve on its seat.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDGAR CLINTON JOHNSTON. 

